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‘No problem. They sell them at the store where I’m working. I’ll buy you a beautiful pair.’Aware that Christian was looking at her, Lara gently deposited Aggie on the floor and stood up, suddenly wondering whether he was about to object. ‘Is it OK with you if I deal with the costume?’
His eyes locked on hers and his voice was rough. ‘I don’t think that would be a good idea.’
‘Dad!’ Chloe gave him an astonished look. ‘Are you mad? You can’t make an angel costume! How can it possibly not be a good idea?’
He let out a long breath. ‘Because it isn’t that simple.’
‘Why not? Dad, someone is offering to help,’ Chloe said. ‘Say yes and say it fast, before she changes her mind.’
Christian ran a hand over his face, looking like a man with an impossible decision to make. Then he let his hand drop to his side and looked at Lara. ‘All right.’ He spoke the words reluctantly. ‘It would be great if you could help Aggie with a costume. Thank you.’
‘Good. That’s settled, then.’
Christian stooped and lifted Aggie into his arms. ‘Stop crying. Lara’s going to make you a costume.’
‘And will you come and see me in the play? I’ve got lines to say.’
‘He can’t, Aggie. You know he’s working. He can’t just take time off like that.’ Chloe leaned against the doorframe. ‘They might let me watch you. Last year we got to watch the little ones.’
‘I’m not little!’Aggie wailed. ‘I want Dad. And Lara. Everyone’s allowed two people watching.’
‘I’ll see if I can get someone to cover,’ Christian promised, and he looked at Lara again. ‘That offer you made—is it still open?’
‘The wild, crazy one?’ She grinned at him. ‘Yes, of course. Why? Are you changing your mind?’
‘What’s wild and crazy?’ Chloe looked at him and then looked at Lara. ‘And what is Daddy changing his mind about?’
Christian held out his hand to Chloe. ‘We’re going to manage without a nanny until Christmas is over.’
‘But how?’ Chloe sidled over to him and took his hand. ‘You can’t stop working.’
‘Lara has agreed to come and stay for a while. We’ll adjust our shifts so that one of us can pick you up from school—’
‘Stay for a while—you mean live here?’ Aggie’s eyes were huge and Christian nodded.
‘She’ll pick you up from school if I’m working and she’ll be here if I’m late home from work.’
‘But what about the holidays?’ Chloe looked up at him. ‘You both work in the same place, don’t you?’
‘Yes, but not always at the same time. One of us will be here with you.’
‘Really?’ Chloe’s face brightened. ‘That’s cool.’
‘Amazingly cool,’ Aggie breathed, scrambling to her feet and sliding her hand into Lara’s. ‘It’s way beyond awesome.’
Christian blinked. ‘Sorry?’
‘Way beyond awesome. I heard it on television.’ Lara covered her mouth with her hand to stop the laughter. She still couldn’t quite believe that she was going to move in with this wonderful family. It was so much better than spending a lonely Christmas on her own in her flat.
‘What about your own family?’ Chloe was looking at her. ‘Everyone spends Christmas with their family. Won’t they miss you?’
‘My family have all gone away for Christmas,’ Lara explained, trying to sound cheerful. ‘My parents are in their cottage in France and my brother moved to Australia six months ago. I only have two days off at Christmas and it isn’t enough for me to go anywhere. So I was going to spend Christmas on my own, but now I’m going to spend it with you.’
‘Our mummy lives far away, too,’ Aggie said. ‘She went away with a suitcase.’
Out of the corner of her eye, Lara sensed Christian’s sudden tension and she sat back down again and pulled the little girl onto her lap. ‘Why don’t you tell me what you’d most like to do this Christmas, Aggie.’
She wanted to make sure that they had a fantastic time.
